It is truly bewildering. On September 19, Mike McCaul, chair of the U.S. House Committee on China, claimed that China refuses to legally acquire essential American technologies for its domestic AI labs while allegedly obtaining related resources through "illicit channels." The message is clear: China is determined to decouple from America’s AI technology stack. McCaul further asserted that the United States must close loopholes in cloud services and tighten restrictions on China’s access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies from the U.S. and its allies.
Upon reading this statement, one can only feel disoriented. On one hand, the U.S. imposes constraints and suppresses the development of China’s artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries, restricting access to advanced chips; on the other, it accuses China of deliberately severing ties with American AI infrastructure and claims China acquires technology through illegal means. One must ask: what exactly is this official trying to convey?
If the U.S. itself is imposing restrictions and suppression, why should China not pursue an independent path? What alternative does he propose? Does the U.S. genuinely wish to decouple? Having initiated the process of disengagement, it then condemns China for seeking self-reliance—what kind of logic is this? To figures like McCaul, who adopt a hardline stance toward China, the “correct” trajectory for China’s high-tech sector would be to remain confined to downstream applications, entirely dependent on U.S. supply for high-end chips and foundational AI frameworks, subject to American technological control.
Any effort by China to advance indigenous capabilities is immediately branded as "seeking illicit technology acquisition" or "proactively decoupling." But such a scenario is no longer feasible. In fact, this politician reveals deep anxiety—aware that China’s industrial momentum in these fields cannot be halted. Thus, he now calls for even stricter controls. Yet the ultimate outcome will be to accelerate China’s drive toward full technological independence. In effect, the U.S. is cultivating a more powerful and comprehensive competitor.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1876718281182211/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author